Final answer:
option a.Julius Caesar was the first to use his portrait on Roman coinage, which was a significant change from previous Roman traditions and served as a political tool to gain public support.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual who first broke with tradition and used his portrait on Roman coinage was Julius Caesar. Unlike the previous practice of featuring illustrious ancestors on coins, Caesar minted coins with his own likeness during his lifetime, which marked a significant departure from Roman norms. By distributing these coins with his image, Caesar conveyed directly to the people that their prosperity was thanks to his leadership, thus encouraging their support for his political agenda. While others like Mark Antony and Octavian (later Augustus Caesar) also used their portraits on coins as part of their political strategy, it was Caesar who initiated this practice.
The first person to break with tradition and use his portrait on Roman coinage was Julius Caesar. Prior to Caesar, it was common to depict illustrious ancestors on coins, but putting a living person on a coin, especially oneself, was considered improper in Roman society. By minting coins with his own likeness, Caesar aimed to show the people that their prosperity was owed to him and gain support for his political pursuits.